How Long Do Paint Fumes Stay In Your System? (What To Do)

It’s not just an unpleasant smell in paint - there are several elements to paint that causes it to have strong paint fumes harmful: 

Most of these paint fumes harmful and won't cause any health issues, as they're mainly non-toxic. But, like many other areas in life, the real problem arises in the additives. They release the toxic fumes when they're released into the air and are what cause issues in your system.  Also, remember to put on the leftover paint containers tightly.

As your paint dries, it releases what are known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are what cause the pollution in your room. That lingering smell of paint after decorating is the VOCs you’re smelling.  In the case of a water based paint, the smell is due to the additives used to maintain the pH of the paint.

Generally, short-term exposure isn't considered paint fumes harmful, although you'll want to get rid of the smell quickly. But long paint fumes exposure can cause more significant health risks. Below we will explore the risks associated with long-term exposure.  

In the air, it’s generally considered that paint fumes quickly stand for approximately 14-24 weeks after painting. They’re released in small amounts that won’t do any harm to your body, provided you’re in a well-ventilated and tidy space.  

But for smaller spaces, such as a studio apartment, or a bathroom, it can cause some issues. When the paint fumes quickly are released into the air, we can breathe them in unknowingly, and prolonged exposure to VOCs has negative effects on our health. There are other factors that will also potentially cause problems:  

If you’re above the age of 65, you’re considered the most likely to develop health problems from prolonged exposure to strong paint fumes. The same applies to young children.

Generally, they’ll hang in your system for a few days after inhaling, but for people with an aging or developing body, this could be enough time to cause damage.  

It's a good idea to avoid a fresh paint fumes room if you're pregnant. While health experts agree that small exposure won’t do much harm to your baby, solvent and oil based paint or paint thinners contain traces of lead, which can be very harmful to you and your baby. You also run the risk of accidentally swallowing any paint if you don’t wash your hands afterward.  

Paint fumes will give you a runny nose and tickly throat after a while. This is your body's reaction to an invasion, which it will then try to clear. After a while, they will enter into your nervous system and liver, and if they’re continuously entering, there’s a risk of damage or even an increased risk of certain cancer types.  

It's no secret that people with asthma should generally avoid inhaling paint fumes, as they can irritate the lungs and cause an asthma attack.

But it's not just asthmatics; underlying health conditions can flare up after a decent amount of exposure to paint fumes. People living with COPD should be especially careful, as toxins in your lungs need to be cleared fast before they worsen the condition. 

It’s always a good idea to make sure you’re using indoor and oil based paints while painting a room - these are designed with the least amount of fumes possible and are generally considered safe for you and your family.  

We mentioned before that fumes will release as the paint dries, and in minuscule amounts. Fumes tend to stay in the paint for up to 14 -24 weeks, which can be worrying if you’re caring for someone or have a young child.  

It also depends on what part of a room you've painted. Paint fumes move upwards as they're released, so a wall won't have fumes for as long. Walls near the windows will especially be toxin-free the fastest. A ceiling comes with more significant risks - because of the upward direction, the ceiling doesn't give much room for escape.  

Thankfully, oil based paints aren’t nearly as toxic as they used to be, with some even being skin safe. In 2022, we have many safety procedures in place to almost eliminate any risks with fumes exposure. But if you’re worried about the fumes, there are things we can do to remove them faster, which we will explore below.  

Firstly - don't panic if you've inhale paint fumes or lead based paint. A very small amount of lead based paint won't cause you any problems. In addition, wearing a face mask or long-sleeved clothing while painting lead based paint can minimize the risks of paint fumes exposure while painting. 

Stop immediately if you begin to feel dizzy, have a headache, have a scratchy throat, are nauseous, or are light-headed, and immediately seek fresh air. This is a symptom of short-term exposure to VOCs, and any further inhalation of the fumes can lead paint to fainting. 

Ensure the room is well ventilated - open all the windows and doors to allow the fumes and lead based paint to escape. Make sure to drink water or milk to stay hydrated and take a seat. Allow yourself to rest for a while before continuing.  

Remember - short-term exposure and inhale paint fumes are very unlikely to cause any health problems and will usually disappear on their own in a few hours or days. If you’re at all worried about yourself or someone else or are showing symptoms of something more serious, contact poison control.  

The key element in removing toxins and to avoid inhale paint fumes from your room is air. Fresh air and plenty of ventilation will eliminate the lingering paint around the room. Speeding up the process is easy, too, and can be surprisingly cost-effective:  

Activated charcoal is a fantastic absorbent for floating toxins in the air. The carbon in the charcoal will draw the paint fumes out of the air, leaving a fresher breath for you in the room.

Simply crush some activated charcoal into a bowl and leave it in a freshly painted room - the fumes will dissipate in hours.  

If you’ve got any electronic fans lying around for the summer, this is a great time to get them into use. Open the windows of a freshly painted room, and switch your fans on to push the air around the room. The fumes will leave faster and away from your lungs in no time! 

Another excellent absorbent is baking soda, especially for rooms with carpets. You can do the same as activated charcoal; leave a few bowls of baking soda around. Or you can sprinkle it into the carpet of a freshly painted room, wait a few hours as the fumes are absorbed, and finish with a quick vacuum.  

If you're so inclined, you can place an air purifier in the room. They can be a little expensive but a worthy investment to improve air quality in your house in general. Leaving the purifier in the painted room for a few hours will bring down the fumes to a much safer level.

It's very unlikely that if you inhale paint fumes in a small numbers,  will cause any lasting damage. But it's never a bad idea to be prepared and inhale paint fumes as little as you can. 

Always wear a face mask, long-sleeved clothing, and eye goggles if possible. Keep the windows open while painting, too. If you're ever worried, contact poison control for advice on what to do.